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R. M. HUNTER. ELEGTMG RAILWAY.

No. 439,662. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. R. M. HUNTER.

ELEGTMG RAILWAY. No. 439,662. I Patented Nov. (il, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THEELECTRIC OAR COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,662, dated November4, 1890.

Original application filed September 23, 1886, Serial No. 214,309.Divided and this application iled June l, 1887. Serial No.

239,930. (No model.) i

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inElectric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to electric railways; and it consistsincertainimprovements, all of which are fully set forth in the followxoing specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which formpart thereof.

This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 214,309,iiled September 23, 1886.

The essential features of my system, so far as the conductors areconcerned, lies in the use of suspended Workingconductors arranged alongthe track. These conductors are bare, and may be made in the form of zoflexible cables, wires, or rods, and with which the traveling electricvehicle makes contact. These suspended conductors may be directlyconnected with the source of electrical energy or they may be connectedindirectly thereto z 5 by means of fixed supply-conductors (preferablyinsulated) either supported above orbelovv the ground, which supply andworking conduct-ors are connected at intervals by branch conductors. Itis also evident that I 3o may make the working suspended conductors insections insulated from each other and connect said sections with thesupply-cond uctors,

. as above specified, or said sections may be automatically cut out ofcircuit to prevent 3 5 leakage, except when'a motor or vehicle is inconnection with the section. In fact, prior to the date of my inventionsuspended conductors for electric railways were not known.

Hence I do not limit myself to the details of 4o construction herein setforth.

In the construction specifically set forth for the overhead conductors Ihave sho-wn them as suspended on counterbalancing-levers, so that theweightof the cables are substantially 4 5 counterbalanced,and thereforemaybe termed floating conductors. This has advantage in the fact thatthe contact on the motor or vehicle may be fixed and travel under thesaid conductors without excessive friction, thus 5o not interfering withthe speed of the vehicle. If two suspended conductors are employed,there will be two collectors; but, if desired, it

is evident that the rails may be used as a return-conductor.

Another part of my improvements has reference to the detection of leaksin the working-conductors.A It is a difficult matter topprevent leakageof the current when using bared working-conductors-such as mustbe usedin electric railways of this class-and the danger 6o is greatestinunderground conductors. This leakage is far less objectionable insystems using separate working and supply conductors than in systemsusing simply the workingconductors. In carrying out this portion of myinvention I provide a shunt-circuit around the motor, connecting,preferably,with the two collectors, and in this shunt-circuit I place aresistance changer and an electro magnet Whose armature controls analarm-circuit, 7o causing the alarm to ring only when the armature isnot attracted by its magnet. The operation is that when the motor isnormally running the resistance in the shunt should be so adjusted thatthe armature of the magnet contained therein is attracted and thealarmcircuit broken. If now the motor should run onto a section orportion ofthe working-conductor where the current was much diminished byloss, the resistance in the shunt would 8o be far too great for thereduced current and the armature would fall, causing the alarm to ringand thereby call attention to the location of the leak and enable thesame to be immediately attended to. External disturbances 8 5 in thecurrent, as trouble at the central station or change in the resistanceof the motorcrcuit, might cause the alarm to ring; but these would beexceptional causes and could be accounted for. Adetector to indicateauto- 9o matically the position of a leak is veryimportant,'particularly on long lines traversing uninhabited districts,as well as those of a damp nature.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of an electric railwayembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a portionof same, showing the details of the car and its connection with theworking-conductors. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the up- Ico per end ofone of the supporting-posts, showing the method of suspending theWorking and supply conductors. Fig. 4 is a plan view of same. Fig. 5 isa cross-section through the working-conductor and its clamp on line Fig.6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of one form ofworking-conductor. Fig. 7 is an elevation ot the supporting-post andsupply and working conductors, such as shown in Fig. et, but with aswitch device to put the working-conductor into circuit only when avehicle is passing. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, showing the conductorsin section, of a modified means of support for the cables orworking-conductors. Figs. O and l0 are elevations showing two systems ofarranging the sectional workiiig-conductors, and Fig. ll is a crosssection through an electrically-propelled vehicle and the road-bed.

A are vertical posts of wood or metal and support the working suspendedconductors B B', which may be secured to pvoted levers B2, which may beweighted at b3 to counterbalance the weight of the conductor. Theselevers B2 when used are hinged to a plate b2, bolted or otherwisesecured to the post A. The generator of electricity A may be connecteddirectly wit-h these working-conductors or may be connected tosupply-conductors b b, which are preferably insulated and permanentlyconnected with the posts, which supply-conductors are electricallyconnected with the working-conductors either through the plates b2 orthe branch conductors Z1', whereby the supply and workin g conductorsare connected at intervals along the line. The generator may be providedwith means A2, Fig. l, to regulate theline-current. From thisconstruction it will be observed that the working-conductors are free torise and fall, in effect being eounterbalanced or floated. Thecounterbalance-weight b3 is adjustable, so that the degree ofeounterbalance may be adjusted, and the lever B2 is limited in itsdownward movement by suitable stops, such as in Fig. Springs maybeused,if desired, in place of the weights.

A3 are the rails of the railway upon which the electrically-propelledvehicle runs and are arranged parallel to the workin g-conductors. Thecar or vehicle is provided with a suitable support and contact-wheels orcollectors C2 C, secured thereto and insulated from each other, and saidwheels run under the conductors B B', receiving the current therefrom.The conductors are counterbalanced suiiciently to reduce the frictionalcontact to just what is necessary to make a good electricaleontact, andas said wheels are higher than the normal highest position of theconductors the cables are slightly raised as the wheels pass along underthem, as shown. The lever-connection also prevents the cable conductorsfrom being dragged along the line, causing them to have a iiXed relativelongitudinal position with the road-bed.

In place of supporting the conductors by levers, as above described, thecables may be supported normally in the metal brackets A5, Figs. 8 and1l, to which brackets the supplyconductors l) are secured. ln thisconstruction the rollers or collecting-wheels (lA2 on the car lift thecables or conductors up clear of the brackets while passing under themand over the said brackets.

One method of joining the sections (when used) of working-conductors isshown in Sheet 2. lhe ends of the conductor-cables are bent into a loopor hook b and are placed in the similarly-shaped recesses between theclamping-plates B, which are drawn together by bolts $6. It will now beobserved by consulting Fig. 5 that the division-line between theclamping-plates at the bottom meet, as at lf, to form a continuoussurface ot' contact and to prevent jarring of the traveling wheels. Theends of these clamps are tapered off to meet the conductors, as shown inFig. 3. The clamp B3, so formed, is hung to the lever B2 directly orthrough the mediation of a link D1. There it is desired to simplysupport the conductor, the clamp may be substituted by a strap, asindicated in Fig. 7. If these sections of the conductor are notinsulated from eachother, then the working-conductor would be connectedat intervals with the supplyconductor, it the same be used; but if theclamped ends be covered with an linsulating material B5 then theworking-conductor would be divided into sections, and each section couldbe connected to the supply-conductor by a branch wire l1 or through oneor more of the lever-connections. This latter construction isillustrated in Fig. 9, in which it will be seen that the lever and itsclamp at l is insulated from both sections of workingconductor, whilethat at 2 is electrically connected to the conductor. In theconstruction shown in Fig. 10 one end of each section is insulated fromits clamp B3, while the other end is not. Hence in this construction wewould have a series of insulated sections each connected through itslever with the supplyconductor. Of course it is evident that thesesections oi' workin g-conductors may be of any desired length, and mayhave as many or as few supports and connections with thesupply-conductor as desired.

The conductor-cables may be simply light wire rods or cables of twistedmetal wires, or they may be made as illustrated in Fig. 7, in which acore or center of steel B8 is coated with copper B" by plating ordipping in a copper bath and the outer surface covered with a copperplate or wire twisted or wrapped about the said rod. The steel by thismethod will be proof against rust and will give strength to theconductor, enabling its section to be small for long spans. The outercopper coating forms a good contact with the collect-ors, and when wornmay be replaced, and by having this steel core the outercovcring may beused untilworn almost completely oit without weakening the conductors asa whole.

So far we have considered the working-'conductors as permanentlyconnected to the generator either direct or through the supply- IOO IIO

conductors. I would now refer'specifically to the construction shown inFig. 7. Here we have the supply-conductor normally insulated from theworking-conductor or its lever B2 and combined with a branch conductorb', terminating in a switch or circuit-breaker A4, arranged with respectto the supportinglevers B2, whereby when the levers are down theconnection with the working-conductors is broken; but when raised by apassing car then the levers will be raised and close the connectionthrough the switch A4, supplying electricity to the sections ofworking-conductor brought in direct use. This arrangement enables theuse of insulated supplyconductors and prevents excessive loss due toleakage from the bared and exposed working-conductors. It is immaterialwhat form of switches be used, for they might be electrical-such as setout in my application, Serial No. 205,770 of 1886-01' mechanical, suchas herein set out.

There may simplybe one suspended working-conductor, the rails being usedas the other conductor and, preferably, the returncircuit for thecurrent. This construction is shown in Fig. 1l.

Referring now to the construction of the passenger electric car orvehicle shown in Sheets l and 2, D is a motor-frame preferably supportedupon the car-axles d or their boxes, the car-body being in most casessupported on springs. To this frame D one or more electric motors D2 aresecured, all preferably having the same shaft or armature-shaft, whichis also preferably set on an incline. Carried upon the ends of thisshaft are the worms D4, which mesh with worm-wheels D on the axles d ofthe car, one of these Worms being above one worm- Wheel and the otherbelow the other worm-wheel. The obliquity of the armature or motor-shaftis not neces, sary, though desirable. To enable the motor to start upwithout having to overcome the full resistance due to the inertia of thestationary car, I make the worms longitudinally movable upon themotor-shaft D3 and provide springs d2 upon each end and surrounding theshaft, though this particular arrangement of the springs is immaterial.It will be seen that upon starting the rotation of the motor-shaft thefirst impulse of the Worms would be to screw on or over the stationaryworm-wheel, compressing the springs, and thus gradually increasing theresistance` to the revolution of the motor-shaft. This enables the motorto exert far greater power at starting, requiring a much smaller motorto overcome the inertia of the car than would be required if the wormswere fast upon the motor-shaft. It is evident that the worm should besufficiently long to allow of this travel over the worm-wheel withoutrunning off the same. It is not Vnecessary to have the worms workagainst springs on both ends if there be two worms, for if a singlespring is on opposite ends of these two worms then Aeither one or theother of said springs would take the thrust in starting the motorforwardl or backward. This last construction would be as if we removedthe spring d2 on the left hand of the motor-shaft in Fig. 2.

Referring again to Fig. 2, E is the motorcircuit supplying current fromthe collectors to the motors. To enable the proper governing of all themotors most perfectly, I connect all of the armatures of the differentmotors, be they on one car or on one train, in 'one circuit E2 and allof the field-magnets in another circuit E', each provided with acurrent-indicator c. The armature-circuit E vhas a resistance-chan gere2 and a current-reverser E3, while the held-magnet circuit E has itsown resistance-changer e and current-reverser E4. By this means thearmature-circuit may be regulated, cut out, or have its current reversedwithout alecting the field, and vice versa.

The construction of the motors shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that setout in my application, Serial No. 200,400, filed April 28, 1886, inwhich the armature is stationary-and the field-magnets revolve. Thedirections of the currents are indicated by the arrows.

O, Fig. 2, is a shunt-circuit around the motor, and is provided with aresistance-chan ger O3, and includes an electro-magnet O. Theresistance-changer O3 may have an indicator o3 to indicate the amount ofresistance in this circuit. This circuit, which we will call adetector-circuit, may be out outby a switch o. The magnet O operates anarmature O2, which is in effect a circuit-breaker arranged in analarm-circuit N, including an alarmbell N', and, if derived from themotor-circuit, a resistance n to prevent an excess of current passingthrough and destroying the alarm-bell magnets. This device is to detecta leak in the workingconductors due to grounding, and is particularlyadapted to sectional working-conductors. The resistance O3 is increasedso that the magnet O will j ust hold up its armature under the normalcurrent. If now the motor run upon a section where the line-current isweak, owing to leakage or other defect, like short-circuiting, thearmature will fall and sound an alarm, indieating the position of theleak or defect. This armature might drop at other times when varying theresistance of the motorcircuit; but such causes would be readilyunderstood, and no notice need be taken of them. It would be an easymatter to provide an automatic device to prevent the alarm sounding uponcut-ting the motor out of circuit.

F, Fig. 2, is a secondary battery of a series of cells, which may becoupled up in any desired manner in series or multiple (well known inmedical and surgical batteries) to vary the power of said battery. Thisbattery is charged by adjusting the switches Y so that the line-currentpasses partly over the circuit E5, charging the battery, the currentfrom which battery may be caused to pass over a lighting-circuit F2 andlight the electric lamp IOO IIO

G, of the are or incandescent type, at night. The strength of thecurrent in circuit F2 may be regulated by resistance-chan ger and theamount of current passing may be indicated by the current-indicator f2.The lamp G shown is designated as a head-light and also to light theinterior ol' the car by having its rays admitted through a frosted glassg in the forward and upper portion of the car-body. Gr2 is a smallincandescent lamp for lighting the operators platform, and is in aderived or shunt circuit G, derived from circuit F2, and being providedwith a separate resistancechanger g'.

The return-circuit might be a third rail B, (shownin dottedlines,) withwhich the collector C2would make contact. The railway may be lighted bylamps Q2, either in shunt-circuit Q, connecting the supply-conductor, asshown in Fig. l, or as shown in Fig. 11, and these circuits may havesuitable resistance-changers Q' to control the amount of current llowingthrough the lamp.

In conclusion, I would state that I do not limit myself to the detailsof construction, as they may be modified in various ways withoutdeparting from my invention, which comprehends,broadly, theconstructions herein set out, the same being entirely novel at the dateof my invention, as far as I am aware.

l. In an electric railway, the combination of a suspended bared working-conductor supported from above, a supply-conductorconnected to theworking-conductor at intervals along the track, a source of electricenergy to supply electricity to the supply-conductor, a travelingvehicle, tracks for said vehicle, parallel to said working-conductor, anelectric motor on said vehicle, and a traveling collector moved by saidvehicle and making contact with said suspended conductor.

2. In an electric railway, the combination of a flexible and suspendedbared workingconductor, a supply-conductor connected to the workingconductor at intervals along the track, a switch device actuated by thepassing vehicle to make connection between said supply and workingconductors, a source of electric energy to supply electricity to thesupply-conductor, a traveling vehicle, tracks for said vehicle, parallelto said working-conductor, an electric motor on said vehicle, and atraveling collector carried by said vehicle and making contact with saidsuspended conductor.

3. In an electric railway, the combination of a flexible and suspendedbared working conductor, insulated supports therefor, a travelingelectric vehicle, an electric motor on said vehicle, acurrent-collecting device carried by the vehicle, over which theworking'- conductor passes, the said collector raising the conductor andpassing longitudinally under it during the travel of the vehicle, asupply-conductor to supply electric current to said working-conductor,branch conductors connecting the supply and working conductors atintervals, and. switches in said branch conductors to make or break theelectrical connection between the supply and working conductors.

4. In an electric railway, the combination of a ilexible and suspendedbared workingconductor, insulated supports therefor, a travelingelectric vehicle, an electric motor on said vehicle,`acurrent-collecting device carried by the vehicle, over which theworking-conductor passes, the said collector raising the conductor andpassing longitudinally under it during the travel of the vehicle, asupply-conductor, branch conductors connectin g said supply and workingconductors at intervals, switches in saidbranch conductors, and devicescarried by the traveling vehicle to operate said switches.

5. In an electric railway, a suspended and movable workilig-conductor,in combination with suitable pivoted counterbalancing devices tocounterbalance the weight of the conductor, whereby it may be easilyraised or lowered.

G. In an electric railway, a suspended and movable workirig-conductor,in combination with suitable counterbalaneing devices to counterbalancethe weight of the conductor, whereby it maybe easily raised or lowered,a stationary supply-conductor, and electrical connections between saidsupply and working conductors.

7. In an electric railway, a suspended and movable working-conductor, incombination with suitable connterbalancing devices to counterbalance theweight of the conductor, whereby it may be easily raised or lowered, astationary supply-conductor, and flexible electrical connections betweensaid supply and working conductors at intervals along the line of therailway.

8. In an electric railway, a suspended and movable working-conductor, incombination with suitable eounterbalancing devices to counterbalance theweight of the conductor, wherebyT it may be easily raised or lowered,astationary su pply-conductor, flexible electrical connections betweensaid supply and working conductors at intervals along the line of therailway, and switches or circuitbreakers in said electrical connections,actuated by the rise and fall of said working-conductcr.

9. In an electric railway, a floating or connterbalancedworking-conductor arranged parallel to the tracks, in combination withmeans to adjust the amount of the counter-balance.

lO. In an electric railway, two suspended bared working-conductorsarranged one above the other and at different levels from the ground, incombination with a road-bed, a traveling vehicle, a motor on saidvehicle, two collectors carried by the vehicle and making an electricalcontact with said working-conductors, a motor-circuit on the vehicle,including said collectors, a field -magnet circuit,

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an armature circuit emanating from said motor-circuit, and aresistance-changer in each of said circuits.

, 11. The combination, in an electric railway, of two suspended andcounterbalanced bared working-conductors, with two fixedsupplyconductors connected with said working-conductors, a source ofelectric supply for said supply-conductors, a traveling vehicle, anelectric motor on said vehicle, and an electrical connection between themotor and working-conductors.

12. In an electric railway, the combination of two flexible baredworking-conductors, a supply-conductor connected with one of saidworking-conductors at one end, and an electric generator having one ofits poles connected with the other end of the supply-conductor and itsother pole connected with the opposite end of the otherworking-conductor.

13. In an electric railway, the combination of a flexible suspendedworking-conductor, counterbalancing -levers therefor arranged atintervals apart, and suspension-straps in which the conductor issupported and connected with the levers.

14. In an electric railway, the colnbination of a iiexible suspended andmovable workingconduct-or, counterbalancing-levers therefor arranged atintervals apart, conducting suspension-straps in which the conductorissupported to connect it with the levers, and a stationarysupply-conductor electrically connected to said levers.

15. In an electric railway, the combination of a stationary or fixedsupply-conductor, a counterbalanced suspended and movableworking-conductor, counterbalancing-levers therefor arranged atintervals along the conductors, electrical connections between thesupply and working conductors, and switches actuated by thecounterbalan@ing-levers to make or break said electrical connections.

16. In an electric railway, the combination of a stationary or fixedsupply-conductor, a counterbalanced suspended and movableworking-conductor, counterbalancing-levers therefor arranged atintervals along the conductors, electrical connections between thesupply and working conductors, switches actuated by thecounterbalancing-levers to make or break said electrical connections,and suitable stops or supports to limitthe downward movement of saidworking-conductor.

17. In an electric railway,tl1e combination of a flexible and suspendedbared workingconductor, insulated supports therefor, a travclingelectric vehicle, an electric motor on said vehicle, acurrent-collecting device carried by the vehicle, over which theworkingconduct-or passes, the said collector raising the conductor andpassing longitudinally under it during the travel of the vehicle, asupply-conductor to supply electric current to said working-conductor,branch conductors connecting the supply and working conductors atintervals, devices carried by the traveling vehicle to operate saidswitches, and suitable stops or supports to limit the down- Wardmovement of said working-conductor.

18. In an electric railway, a suspended working-conductor, incombination with suitable counterbalancing devices to counterbalance theweight of the conductor, whereby it may be easily raised or lowered, astationary supply-conductor, flexible electrical connections betweensaid supply and working conductors at intervals along the line of therailway, switches or circuit-breakers in said electrical connections,actuated by the rise and fall of said worki11g-conductors,`and suitablestops or supports to limit the downward movement of saidworking-conductor.

19. In an electric railway, a lioating counterbalan'cedworking-conductor arranged parallel to the tracks, and suitable stops orsupports to limit the downward movement of said worki11g-conductor.

20. In an electric railway, two suspended bared working conductorsarranged one above the other and at different levels from the ground,and counterbalancing-levers for said conductors, in combination with aroadbed, a traveling vehicle, a motor on said vehicle, two collectorscarried by the vehicle and making electrical contact with saidworking-conductors, and suitable stops or supports to limit the downwardmovement of said worki11g-conductors.

21. In an electric railway, the combination of a road-bed, a suspendedbared workingconductor made in sections and parallel to the road-bed, aclamp uniting the sections end to end, suitable supports for saidconductor, a traveling vehicle independent of the conductor, a motor onsaid vehicle, and a collector working in contact with said conductor.

22. In an electric railway, the combination of a suspended bared workingconductor made in sections insulated from each other, clamps uniting thesections end to end, suitable supports for said conductor through themediation of said clamps, a traveling vehicle, a motor on said vehicle,a collector moving with the vehicle and working in contact with saidconductor, a supply-conductor, and electrical connections between saidsupply-collductor and sections'of working-conductor.

23. In an electric railway, the combination ol' suspendedworkiiig-conductor sections arranged end to end and insulated from eachother, clamps mechanically uniting said sections together, suitablesupporting and counterbalancing devices for said working-con- IOO IIO

ductor sections, a supply-conductor, and electrical connections betweensaid supply-conductor and sections of working-conductors.

24. In an electric railway, the combination of suspendedworking-conductor sections arranged end to end and insulated fromv eachother, clamps mechanically uniting said sections together, suitablesupporting and counterbalancing` levers connected to the said clamps, asupplyconductor, and electrical connections between saidsupply-conductor and sections of workiiig-conductors.

25. In an electric iailway, the combination of suspendedworkiiig-conductor sections arranged end to end and insulated from eachother, clamps mechanically uniting said sections together, suitablesupporting and coun terbalancing levers connected to the said clamps, asupply-conductor, and electrical connections between saidsupply-conductor and sections of working-conductor,including thecounterbalaneilig-lever.

26. In an electric railway, the combination of suspendedworking-conductor sections arranged end to end and insulated from eachother, clamps mechanically uniting said sections together, suitablesupporting andcounterbalancing levers connected to the said clamps, asupply-conductor, electrica-l connections between said supply-conductorand sections of working-conductor, a travelingvehicle, an eleetromotoron said vehicle, a collector carried by the vehicle and making contactwith the working-conductor sections, and switches actuated by thepassing vehicle through the agency of the counterbalancinglevers to makeand break said electrical connections.

27. In an electric railway, the combination of suspendedworki11g-conductor .sections arranged end to end and insulated from eachother, clamps mechanically uniting said sections together, suitablesupporting and counterbalancing levers connected to the said clamps, asnpply-conductor, electrical connections between said supply-conductorand sections of workin g-conductor, a traveling vehicle, an electromotoron said vehicle, a collector earried by the vehicle and making contactwith the workin g-conductor sections, and switches actuated by thepassing vehicle to make and break said electrical connections.

2S. In an elect-ric railway, a suspended working-conductor made insections, in combination with clamps uniting` one end oi each sectionwith t-he other end ot the next adjacent; section, each clamp beingelectrically connected with one section and insulated from the nextsection, a supply-conductor, and electrical connections between saidsupply-conductor and said clamps.

29. In an electric railway, a suspended workingeonductor made insections, in combination with clamps uniting one end of each sectionwith the other end ot the next or adjacent section, each clamp beingelectrieall y connected to one section and insulated from the nextsection, a counterbalancing device for counterbalancin g said working-eonductor, whereby it may be easily raised, a supplyconductor, andelectrical connections between said supply-conductor and said clamps.

30. The combination of a suspended conductor B, made in sections havingtheir ends bent over, as at b, clamps B3, formed of side plates B",uniting-bolts Bt', and suitable suspending devices connecting with saidclamps.

31. The combination of a suspended conduetor B, made in sections havingtheir ends bent over, as at b, clamp B3, formed of side plates 34,uniting-bolts B, insulation B5, insulating one of the clamped ends Z1from the clamp, suitable suspending devices connecting with said clamps,a supply-conductor I), and electrical connections b between saidsupply-conductor and clamps.

In an electric railway, a vertically-movable suspendedworking-conclueter, in combination with suitable counterbalancingdevices to counterbalance the weight of the conductor, whereby it may beeasily raised or lowered, and suitable stops or supports to limit thedownward movement of said working-conductor- 33. In an electricrailway,a vertically-movable suspended worki11g-conductor, incombination with suitable eounterbalancing devices to counterbalance theweight ol' the conductor, whereby it may be easily raised or lowered, atraveling vehicle, an electric motor on said vehicle, a collectingdevice carried by said vehicle and making contact with saidworkiug-conductor, adapted to raise the working-conductor as it passeslongitudinally beneath the same, and suitable stops or snpports to limitthe downward movement of said working-conductor.

St. In an electric railway, a suspended working-conductor, incombination with suitable counterbalancing devices to eounterbalance theweight of the conductor, whereby it may be easily raised or lowered, astationary supply-conductor, iiexible electrical connections betweensaid supply and working conductors, arranged at intervals along therailway, switches or circuit-breakers in said electrical connections,actuated by the rise and fall of said working-conductors, a travelingvehicle, an electric motor on said vehicle, and a collecting devicecarried by said vehicle and making contact with said working-conductorand adapted to raise the workilig-conductor as it passes longitudinallybeneath the same.

In an electric railway, a suspended working-conductor, a travelingelectrically-propelled vehicle, and a contact` device carried by thevehicle and making contact with said suspended conductor, the mechanicalconstructions being such that the contact and conductor automaticallyremain in contact irrespective of the irregularities in the suspensionof the conductor.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto Set my hand.

RUDOLPH ill. .HUNTER Witnesses:

Riel-ID. S. CHILD, Jr., E. M. BRECKINREED.

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